Sizing-board for assorting tobacco.



No. s3|,3s7. Patented Aug. 22, I899.

C. O. SHUPERT &. W. STROOP.

SIZING BOARD FOR ASSORTING TOBACCO.

(Application filed June 5, 1899.)

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ATENT CLAYTON O. SHUPERT AND IVILLIAM STROOP, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SIZING-BOARD FOR ASSORTING TOBACCIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,387, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed June 5,1899. Serial No. 719A86. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLAYTON O. SHUPER and WILLIAM STROOP, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sizing-Boards for Assorting Tobacco; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improved sizingboard for use in assorting tobacco as it comes from the grower-and possesses the novel and advantageous features hereinafter described.

When tobacco is delivered by the farmer or producer to the packer or shipper, it is in bulk form and has to be assorted by hand and the different lengths arranged in separate bunches. It is therefore the object of ourin vention to provide convenient means for facilitating this work of assorting consisting of a sizing-board that is supportable in a convenient position for the assorter to perform the work of laying the sprigs of tobacco thereon to measure the sizes thereof. To this end the board is provided with a series of crosslines with figures and marks indicating the different sizes or lengths of the tobacco, the said lines being provided in such a manner as to prevent their defacement or obliteration from usage, and, further, to provide such board with a convenient cutting-blade for cut-r ting the ends of the sprigs to produce the required lengths when necessary.-

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of our improved sizing-board, parts of the table upon which it is supported being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side edge elevation of said board. This view shows the incline of the board when in an operative position. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the respective ends.

A is a metallic end plate made rigid to the table B. This plate has a V-shaped cutting edge a provided in one of its vertical edges. The sizing-board O is held in position at one end by this plate, against which it is pressed by a wire frame I), which fits in a groove 6 in the end of the board. The said frame is se-' cured by wire staples to a raised part f of the table adjacent the end of the board. A spring 9 exerts a strong pressure on the wire frame I) to press it in the groove, and thereby the end of the board is securely held in an elevated position on the incline shown in Fig. 2. The grooved end of the board also has short grooves t, in which the vertical parts of the wire frame fit, and thus the board is prevented from moving in any direction. When the said board is not in use, it may be released from the spring-frame by pressing the latter out and lowering the elevated end of said board to a fiat position on the table, as

assorter laying each sprig of tobacco upon the 1 board to ascertain its length, after which those of similar lengths are placed in piles and made into hands. Some of the lengths or sizes indicated on the board are standard sizes and are preferred to other sizes. These preferred sizes may be obtained by cutting the ends off of those sprigs which do not meas ure the exact preferred lengths,but come near thereto.

Having described our invention,we claim- 1. In a sizing-board for assorting tobacco, the combination of a vertical end plate, a sizing-board having a scale thereon by which the various sizes of tobacco are ascertained, the said board having a groove in one end, and a spring-pressed frame secured adjacent to said grooved end of the board and fitting in said groove whereby the said board is sup ported in an inclined position with its lower end held securely against the end plate.

2. A new article of manufacture, comprising a sizing-board having its face provided with a series of inlaid strips of a color contrasting from that of the board and providing aseries of transverse lines, figures and other marks between said lines forming a l In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CLAYTON O. SHUPERT. WILLIAM STROOP.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM POHLMANN, R. J. MCCARTY. 

